Fruit-picker



' Q. MCCRIE, DECD.

w. MccRlE, ADMINISTRATOR.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, IMSLS. 1,373,898.

Patented Apr. 5, umLu QUEENIE MCCRIE, DECEASED, LATE 0F SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA, BY WILLIAM MCCRIE, ADMINISTRATOR, OF SARNIA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO'MAY MCGRIE, OF SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA, AND ONE-HALE TO WILLIAM O. SHEETS,

F CLIVALE, ALBERTA, CANADA.

FRUIT-PICKER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, i921.

Application led 0cto`cer'4, 1919. Serial No. 328,572.

T0 all wiz-0m t may concer/n.'

Bc it known that QUnnNrn MCCRIE, deceased, late subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Sarnia, in the county of Lambton, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, did invent new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pickers, of which tric following is a Specification.

T his invention relates to fruit pickers, and one of its objects is to provide a' fruit picker which is simple and inexpensive in construction and adapted to be readily and conveniently operated. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a fruit picker which embodies novel and improved features whereby increased eiiiciency is secured.

The invention consists of the features of constriution, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit picker embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the cutting; mechanism thereof. l l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ferrule and frame ring.

tion of thc lower end of the sack showing the valved outlet partition therein.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a stai or handle, made of wood or other suitable material and of any suitable diameter and length. The upper end of this staif is suitably formed to receive a tang or shank upon a fixed cutting blade 2 having an arcuate cutting edge 3 for cooperation with the cutting edge 4 of a movable blade 5.

A metallic ferrule 6 encircles the upper end of the staff for the purpose of strength-` ening and reinforcing the same and serving as a support for certain parts of the apparatus. This ferrule 6 is provided at one side with a vertically disposed eye 7 and is provided at an opposite side with an angularly projecting `guide arm 8 having a guide aperture 9 therein. Y

The eye 7 is designed to receive and support a. gathering sack 10 having a flaring or expanded mouth portion 11 provided with an inclose'd frame rim' 12. This rim 12 is of annular or ring form and preferably made of wire, one end of which is bent outwardly to form a radial arm 13, upwardly to form a bracing arm 14 and downwardly in parallel relation to the arm 14 to provide therewith a supporting hook 15. The parts 14 and 15 provide a member of U-form, the hook portion 15 of which is engageable with the eye 7 to detachably support the sackY from the ferrule,'the arm 14 lying in con-l tact with the outer surface of the eye to brace and reinforce the connection, while the arm 13 suitably spaces the ,mouth of the Y sack from the staff 1.

slot- 19 receiving a headed pin or stud 2O on the fixed blade, allowing the lever 17 to swing vertically and at the saine time move transversely across the blade 2 to secure Van efficient cutting action of theblade 5.

Extending through the guide opening 9 in the guide arm 8 is a connecting rod 21. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal Vsec- Y and restoring it tosuch position after cutting actuation. Y

The lower end of the connecting rod 21 is coupled to an actuating crank 24 of novel construction, said Acrank being preferably made of wire bent into the form of an oblong rectangular loop. The Vends of the wire are arranged for connection at one side of the loop, and one end 25 thereof is formed with a terminal eye 26, through which passes the other end 27 of the wire, which is extended laterally to form a crank arm 28, said crank arm being movable in a slot or bifurcation 29 formed in the lower end a pin 30 extending across said bifurcation.

of fabric or other suitable material.

The arm 27, at its point of connection with one end oi the loop crank 2d, is formed to provide an eye 8l which pivotally engages the lower end of the rod 2l, whereby through reverse rocking movements of the crank 2a the rod 2l may be reciprocated and the movable cutting blade 5 actuated in an obvious manner. It will be observed that such construction oi the crank 24C permits it to be held easily and conveniently in the hand of the operator without fatigue, and allows the operator through easy and natural rocking movements of the'wrist to Veffect the actuation of the movable cutting blade.

I preferably provide within the lower end y of the sack 10 adjacent to the outlet thereof,

a conical valve cr builer partition 32, made Vlhis buffer partition is provided at its apex with an opening 33, which is preferably iuted or gathered, and is normally held in such condition by the elastic band 34, so that it will form a stop to check the fruit on its fall by gravity and prevent the fruit from becoming bruised or injured. It will be vunderstood that the fruit falling will distend the partition and expand the elastic outlet so that it will pass therethrough, allowing it to discharge easily and without injury.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the invention provides a fruit picker which may be made light in weight, which is simple of construction and may be inexpensively manufactured and sold, and which in addition is free from complicated parts and embodies a construction of operating elements insuring ease and convenience in the actuation of the cutting mechanism.

Having thus `fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a fruit picker, the combination including a staff and a gathering receptacle coeXtensive therewith, of a fixed cutter blade projecting from the upper end out the stall2 and in line therewith, a ferrule engaged over `the upper end of the staff and securing said fixed cutter blade in position thereon, a movable cutter blade pivotally supported on said iXed Cutter blade, a guide pin mounted on said fixed cutter blade and in engagement with a guide slot formed in said actuating lever, a guide arm projecting radially of said errule, an operating rod coeXtensive withthe stall and movable in said guide arm and connecting said actuating lever, a spring associated with said operating rod between said actuating lever and said guide arm and normally tensioning said actuating lever to hold the movable cutter blade in operative position with respect to said lined cutter blade, and an operating crank pivoted at the lower end of the staff and connecting said operating rod.

2. In a fruit picker, theV combination including a staE and a gathering receptacle coextensive therewith, of a ixed cutter blade projecting from the upper end of the stall" and in line therewith, a errule engaged over the upper end oi the stati and securing said fixed cutter blade in position thereon, a movable cutter blade pivotally supported on said iiXed cutter blade and cooperative therewith, an actuating lever connecting said movable cutter blade and extending rearwardly therefrom, a guide arm extending radially of said Jerrule and in line with said actuating lever, an operating rod coextensive with the stad and movable in said guide arm and connecting said actuating lever, a spring coiled around said operating sov rod between said guide arm and said actuat- Y 

